ROAD SAFETY PROTESTS

Left leaders demand release of students before Eid

Ganosamhati Andolon brings out a procession in the capital on Saturday, demanding release of photographer Shahidul Alam and leaders of Chhatra Federation along with all students. — New Age photo

Left leaders on Saturday demanded unconditional release of the students arrested during their protests for safe roads as well as acclaimed photographer Shahidul Alam before Eid-ul-Azha.

They, from a rally in front of the National Press Club, under the banner of Dhaka City unit of Left Democratic Alliance, alleged that the government was doing double-faced politicking towards the students as it was on the one hand praising them for the agitations, but on the other hand filing cases, arresting and harassing them.

Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh general secretary Saiful Haque, also coordinator of the LDA, said that the students who had brought discipline on the roads should be praised for it, but the government was carrying out ‘fascist attacks’ on them.

He also claimed that though the students had no involvement in politics, the police were branding them as Jamaat-Shibir.

‘I want to ask the police commissioner why the ruling party men who carried out attacks on peaceful student protests have not been arrested,’ he said.

Socialist Party of Bangladesh city leader Khalequzzaman Lipon, SPB (Marxist) city leader Fakhruddin Kabir Anik and Ganosamhati Andolon city leader Bachchu Bhuiyan also spoke in the rally presided over by Communist Party of Bangladesh city unit general secretary Sajedul Huq Rubel, also convener of the alliance’s Dhaka city unit.

Ganosamhati Andolon held a protest rally at the same venue before the LDA event also calling for cancellation of section 57 of the controversial Information and Communication Technology Act 2006.

Ganosamhati coordinator Zonayed Saki said that the government was misusing section 57 to harass protesters. ‘The government is trying to contain justified student movements by arresting them with claims of spreading rumours’.

Citizens’ initiative Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik in a statement demanded unconditional release of arrested student protesters before Eid-ul-Azha, which will be celebrated on Wednesday.

At least eight quota reform protesters were arrested since April 29.

At least 100 people, most of them students, were arrested in 52 cases filed between July 29 and August 15 over violence during the latest student protests for safe roads.